The Queen strode around her husband and then behind the desk. There wasn’t a lot of room there due to a cabinet with a bust of Queen Felitïa on top of it between two alcoves, but she managed to sit in the chair there. “Now, we have business to conclude. We will deal with the matter of this Dyle Aderman later, when the Patriarch has calmed down and is willing to tell us what he knows. At the moment, I am more interested in the accusation made again Lady Lidda Plavin. This is a serious accusation. She is the ruler of Plavin-Tyl, one of our more powerful provinces. Not to mention, she and Malef are courting, and he is already talking marriage. A Darker in the Royal Family would be…”

“If I may say, your Majesty?” Barnol Friaz said. At a nod from the Queen, he continued, “It’s a ludicrous accusation. You have nothing to worry about from her Ladyship.”

“I disagree,” Gabriella said.

“Don’t you always, Gabriella?” the Queen said.

“I was there when she was taunting Rudiger. She knew what Laänne was up to.”

“Why would she admit to such a thing?” the Queen asked.

“She didn’t say it exactly, but she taunted and made it clear something was about to happen.”

“No chance,” Barnol said. “I suggest you misinterpreted her actions. Teasing. She might have just been teasing, and it was an unfortunate coincidence that something was really happening. I have known Lidda her entire life. Her father, Harrol, was a good friend of mine. I still mourn his passing, but he raised her well, and she is a good person.”

Gabriella stood up. “You know her well, do you, my Lord? And how long have you lived here?”

Barnol pulled on his beard. “Let’s see. It must be around twenty years now. Give or take.”

Gabriella raised her eyebrows. “That’s a long time. How often have you left the Palace? When was the last time?”

Barnol continued to pull on his beard. “I admit, very infrequently, but people do come here from time to time.”

“And when was the last time Lidda Plavin was here?”

“Let’s see...I suppose it must have been...well…”

Gabriella smirked. “I’ll tell you, shall I? It was seven years ago.”

Barnol’s eyes widened, and he scratched at his beard more. “That long?”

Gabriella nodded. “That long. And the time before that was five years earlier. You see, I checked the records. They’re freely available. Check them yourself if you want to confirm. But I ask you, with such infrequent visits here and you never going to visit her there—I checked those records, too—how well do you really know her? Unless of course, you falsified your reports of where you were going on those rare occasions you’ve left the Palace, but I wouldn’t want to accuse you of that.”

Barnol grunted and shifted in his seat. “I told you, her father was a good friend of mine. I can’t believe Harrol would raise a bad child.”

Gabriella laughed.

Tianna looked to her father. “You’re wrong, Father.”

“Don’t tell me you believe this nonsense, my dear?” Barnol said.

Tianna nodded. “I don’t know Lady Plavin myself, but this isn’t the first thing like this she’s done. Last year, she tried to have Zandrue and Rudiger killed. For no reason. They just walked into Tyl, and she ordered their deaths. Isn’t that true, Zandrue?”

Zandrue nodded. “Technically, it was just Rudiger’s death, but I was with him, so I got included.”

“And you believe this woman?” Barnol said. “Not long ago, you told me you hated her. You told me you thought she only wanted to cause trouble.”

Tianna sighed and looked to Zandrue. “I did say that, but that was weeks ago.” She jumped to her feet and rushed to Zandrue’s side, grabbing Zandrue’s hand. “But I’ve gotten to know Zandrue over the last couple months, the last week especially. I was wrong about her. I trust her completely.” She squeezed Zandrue’s hand and looked up into her eyes. “I really do.”

Zandrue smiled at her, then looked to the Queen. “Your Majesty, I’m not making things up here.”

The Queen sighed. “I don’t know. This is...this just…”

Tianna rushed over to the desk, curtsied, then knelt in front of it. “Your Majesty, you know me. I’ve lived here almost my whole life. You’re like a mother to me. I love you like I do my own mother. You know I would never pledge my trust in someone if I wasn’t sure.”

The Queen leaned forward and held her hand out to Tianna. “Rise, my dear.”

Tianna took the hand and rose to her feet.

The Queen smiled at her. “I do know you, Tianna, and I know you love me. I love you dearly, too. Like one of my daughters. But I also know how easily a pretty face turns your head. I had hoped Annai’s attempts to set you up with a man would have cured you of that.”

Tianna stared at her. “But…”

The Queen patted Tianna’s hand. “Don’t worry, dear. As shocked as I am to say this, I don’t disbelieve Ms Armida. I think there is reason to be wary of Lidda Plavin, but I won’t move against her without positive proof. We have a war with the Volgs coming upon us. We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves without good reason.” She let go of Tianna’s hand. “Annai, you vouch for Ms Armida too, yes?”

Annai stood up. “Yes, Mother. Two months ago, I would not have believed this could happen, but then she saved my life. I know Laänne was after Zandrue, not me, but the dogs would have killed both of us. She has been nothing but loyal and supportive ever since. I’ve come to regard her as a friend, possibly my best friend after Tianna. And…” She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

“And?” the Queen said.

Annai opened her eyes and looked her mother in the eyes. “You won’t like this, but attempts to set Tianna up with a man are never going to work. I happen to think she and…” Annai broke eye contact and looked to the side. “She and Zandrue would be a good couple.”

Gabriella laughed.

“That is...I mean...if Zandrue wasn’t already in a relationship.”

Zandrue forced herself not to groan. She really hadn’t meant to give anyone the impression she was interested in Tianna—especially not Tianna herself. That was something she was going to have to figure out a solution to.

Gabriella put an arm around Annai. “There’s hope for you yet, little sister.”

Annai pulled away. “I’m just...I’m just saying…”

The Queen scowled. “It doesn’t matter right now. We are not here to discuss that.” She waved Zandrue forward. “Approach me.”

Zandrue did so. Tianna took her arm and leaned her head against Zandrue’s shoulder. Gods, she really needed to do something about this.

“Lidda Plavin’s mother is a friend of mine,” the Queen said. “I will not break her heart without cause. I need proof. Get it for me, and I will have that woman’s head. Otherwise…”

Zandrue nodded. “I understand, your Majesty.”

“This is a mistake, your Majesty,” Barnol said.

“You have made your opinion known, Barnol, and I value it, as I always do. But you might be wrong on this occasion. Don’t worry. I won’t make a move without absolute proof.”

“If I may, your Majesty,” Zandrue said. “I have an idea.”

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The Queen nodded.

Zandrue squeezed Tianna’s hand and turned around to face the rest of the room. “Gabriella, your Highness?”

“Yes?”

“You know Malef better than anyone else here, right?”

Gabriella nodded. “Yes, but Pastrin knows him better.”

“I don’t want Malef brought into this yet,” the Queen said. “If Lady Plavin is innocent, he must never know of these accusations. Like Lady Plavin’s mother, I will not break his heart without cause.”

Zandrue nodded. “I understand and agree completely, your Majesty. I was wondering if, instead, we could bring Pastrin into our confidence? Gabriella, you and Pastrin have the best chance of being close to Malef—physically, I mean. And that means you have the best chance of being close to Lady Plavin. Perhaps…”

Gabriella grinned. “I’ll do my best. Rudiger can help, too.”

The Queen stood up. “Then we are agreed. But Zandrue, know that if I discover you have made all this up, that your aim is to disrupt or cause harm…”

“It isn’t, Mother,” Annai said. “I’m sure of it.”

The Queen held up a hand to silence Annai. “I am speaking, Annai. If I find out anything like this, Zandrue, it will be your head I will have not Lidda Plavin’s. Am I clear?”

Zandrue bowed her head and curtsied. “Perfectly, your Majesty.”

“Then we are finished here. The King and I have some things to discuss. You are all dismissed.”

Everyone curtsied or bowed to the King and Queen, then moved to the door, leaving only the King, Queen, and the one Kingsguard in the room.

In the next room, Barnol Friaz shook his head. “Such a ridiculous claim. Come, Tianna. Let’s return to our apartments.”

“If you don’t mind, Father, I’ll be along in a little while. I wish to talk to Zandrue and Annai first.” Tianna curtsied to her father.

Barnol’s eyes narrowed and he glared at Zandrue. Then he patted his stomach. “Fine. Have it your way.” He continued to glare at Zandrue for several more seconds as he turned away slowly. When he finally broke eye contact, he stormed off.

Zandrue watched him go. Why was he so unhappy with the Queen’s decision? Why was he so determined to defend Lidda Plavin? Some of her previous suspicions about him resurfaced in her head.

“He doesn’t look happy,” Gabriella said with a smile.

Tianna snuggled against Zandrue’s arm. “He’ll calm down. Eventually.”

“I suppose we should get started on the plan,” Gabriella said. “I’ll go find Pastrin.” She took Annai’s arm. “Why don’t you give me a hand, Annai?”

Annai pulled away. “What? Why?”

“I just thought…” Gabriella nodded towards Zandrue and Tianna, though Zandrue was pretty sure Tianna didn’t notice. “You and Pastrin rarely talk. This will give you something to talk about.”

Anna tilted her head and frowned. “Pastrin and I…” Her eyes widened. “Right, of course. I really should talk to my brothers more. Let’s go find Pastrin.” She linked arms with Gabriella. “I’ll see you two later.”

Annai and Gabriella walked away, giggling, leaving Zandrue alone with Tianna and the servant at the door to the King’s Study.

Tianna tugged on Zandrue’s arm and led her to the other side of the room. “They did that to leave us alone together, you know.”

Zandrue sighed. “I know. Look, Tianna, I…”

“I know,” Tianna said. “And it’s okay. You’ve got Rudiger. I’d never expect you to leave him.”

Well, that was positive, wasn’t it? Probably not. This was going to be like Felitïa from years ago all over again—only harder because Felitïa was better at understanding other people’s behaviour.

She should put an end to this right now. In no uncertain terms, she had to tell Tianna that this couldn’t happen. But gods damn it, she needed to use Tianna again.

“Tianna, could I ask you a favour?”

Tianna looked up at her and smiled. “Of course.”

“You trust me, right?”

Tianna nodded. “Of course. I just gushed about that to the Queen, remember?”

“I know. It’s just that...well...what I’m about to ask could stretch the limits of that trust. I might be wrong, which is why I want to ask you to do this. You can determine if I’m right or wrong.”

“Okay, what?”

“It’s about your father.”

Tianna looked blankly at her at first, but her face fell slowly as Zandrue explained what she wanted.

* * * * *

Ardon was waiting for her in the study cabinet when Zandrue returned to her apartments. Marna told her as soon as she walked in.

“You used me,” Zandrue said as she reached the top of the stairs.

He was sitting behind the desk as usual. “Of course I did, but it was for your benefit. Calling out my lie got the Queen to listen to you, didn’t it?”

Zandrue sat at the desk and took the wine already poured for her. “It did, but what about you?”

Ardon smiled and drank from his wine cup. “I have nothing to worry about. One of two things will happen tomorrow. Either the Queen will come contritely to me to apologise, or if she doesn’t, I will go contritely to her.”

“Won’t that weaken your position in court?”

Ardon shrugged. “Politics is always a game of advance and retreat. You give up some power on one occasion and gain some on another. This is far from the worst situation I’ve ever been in. I had to deal with Queen Felitïa. Annai is child’s play in comparison.”

“Huh.” Zandrue took a long drink. “Your Grace, could I ask you a question about something that’s got nothing to do with politics? Well, not much anyway. It relates to your actual job.”

He raised his eyebrows. “My actual job?”

“As a priest.”

He chuckled. “Ah. Go ahead.”

Zandrue took another drink. “It’s Tianna. I’m using her for my own gain.”

“And you feel bad about this?”

“Yeah. I like her. I care about her, but…”

“How deeply does she love you?”

Zandrue closed her eyes and sighed. “I fear she’s gone pretty deep.”

“Then she will be happy to do things for you.”

Zandrue scoffed. “That hardly excuses me using her.”

“You’re right. It doesn’t. Do you believe what you’re doing is for a good cause? That it justifies your actions?”

“I hope so.”

Ardon nodded slowly, and took another drink of his wine. “Then your guilt is your punishment. If you felt no guilt, then we might have a problem.”

Zandrue pondered for a moment. “Not exactly what I was expecting.”

“Few things are.”

“Or are you telling me these things so I’ll do them because that’s what you want me to do?”

“What do you think?” he asked.

Zandrue laughed. “I haven’t got a clue what to think.”

“Then I’ll tell you what I think.”

Zandrue leaned forward in her chair, running a finger along the lip of her cup. “Please do.”

“I think you and Quilla are the best hope the Palace has to ferret out what’s going on before something truly disastrous happens. However, you don’t like to be manipulated, so I should do as little of that as possible.”

Zandrue leaned forward more.

“Thus, my advice to you is sincere. I mean what I say.”

“You’ve figured something else out, haven’t you?” Zandrue said.

Ardon smiled and raised his glass. “I knew I could count on you. A toast. To victory over the Darkness.”

Zandrue raised her glass and they clinked them together. “To victory over the Darkness.”